Dads dread the thought, mums hate the organisation and the kids constantly ask 'are we there yet', but the perfect day trip is possible if you follow a simple formula, according to a new report yesterday.

With eight out of ten Britons intending to take day trips in coming months, Halfords has worked with psychologist Dr Geoff Rolls to provide a guide to take the stress out of the planning.

To enjoy the perfect day out families should travel by car, drive no more than 100 miles from home.

Eight out of ten Britons will take day trips in coming months and will be hoping for stress-free, sunny days

Factor in a sunny day, not breaking down, minimal traffic disruption and a destination that appeals to the whole family and this will equate to an outing that will live on in the memory long after the summer has gone.

The key consideration governing how far we are prepared to travel on a day trip is fuel, the cost of which is a prime concern for four out of ten people, while for 29 per cent it is the time taken to get there and for 23 per cent it is the length of time spent at the destination.

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Halfords study reveals that almost nine in ten of us want to travel by car and two in three say under 100 miles is the ideal distance.

Surprisingly what most people fear when taking a day trip is their motor letting them down with more than a third of people saying being stranded by the roadside is their biggest concern.

A successful day trip takes planning and organisation. Breaking down and bad weather are most likely to ruin the experience

This narrowly beats bad weather which 34 per cent of people fear will spoil the fun. Traffic jams are the greatest annoyance for 21 per cent.

However the fear of getting lost or bored or arguing during the journey has almost disappeared from drivers’ list of concerns with just 6 per cent and 4.5 per cent citing these once major considerations.

Over half of passengers 54 per cent take smart phones, tablet computers and DVD players to occupy them during the journey and the sat nav has taken the uncertainty out of the route.

Whilst most agree that the destination should be somewhere that appeals to everyone who is going, there is disagreement over whether somewhere they have visited before or somewhere new and different is preferable.

Some 21 per cent favour revisiting a previous destination while 24 per cent want to seek out new and different locations.

The Summer Daytripper Study researched the habits of over 2000 men and women of all ages and found that with money tight, motoring costs rising and leisure time in short supply, we have to make some tough decisions before departure.

Dr Rolls, from the University of Southampton, said: 'We remember the extraordinary rather than the mundane and so a memorable day trip is important for recharging the batteries and for our psychological well-being.

'This fascinating research shows not only how keen the nation is on day trips but how people intend to make the most of their time and money.

'With proper preparation the risks can be substantially reduced and the likelihood that the day out will live up to expectations greatly increased.

'A truly memorable day trip could be closer than you think and needn’t break the bank.'

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Formula for the perfect family outing: Proper preparation and a journey by car are recipe for a good day trip